advertisement

Shrink Battery-Powered Products with a Combination Battery

Charger and DC/DC Converter Design Note 1002
Tom Hack
12/03/1002
Introduction
Until now, power management in portable devices or
systems with battery backup have required a mix of
major components to fulfill the basic functions of battery
charging and generation of system supply voltages. A
typical solution requires at least one charger IC for
charging the battery, another IC to supply a regulated
system bus voltage from a constantly changing battery
voltage, PowerPath control and a low dropout regula-
tor (Figure 1).
Space is at a premium in these ever shrinking portable
products, creating an imperative to shrink the power
circuitry as well. The LTC

1980 solves the space problem

by combining these functional blocks into a single IC. The
result is a substantial reduction in the complexity of
portable power systems (Figure 2).
How the LTC1980 Reduces Size and Cost
The LTC1980 manages both battery charging and
generaton of the regulated system bus voltage via a unique
bidirectional pulse-width modulator design (Figure 3).
When the wall adapter is present, power passes directly to
the system load DC/DC converters and to a pulse width-
modulated battery charger formed by M1, M2, T1 and the
LTC1980. With the wall adapter present, power flows into
the battery. With the wall adapter removed, power flows
in the opposite direction, out of the battery, and is regu-
lated through the DC/DC converter formed by the same
power components. In this way, a single bidirectional
supply replaces two traditional pulse width modulated
supplies producing a substantial parts savings. No addi-
tional power routing/management is needed, further
reducing the parts count and power losses that would be
incurred by the additional circuitry.
4.1V/1A Li-Ion Battery Charger and
3.3V DC/DC Converter
Figure 4 shows a 4.1V/1A Li-Ion battery charger and 3.3V
DC/DC converter. The LTC1980 includes a complete PWM
regulator controller, PowerPath management functions
and charge termination (including pre-trimmed 4.1V,
4.2V, 8.2V and 8.4V float voltages, under- and overvolt-
age protection, trickle-charge cell conditioning and charge
termination timing). Other battery chemistries may be
externally programmed.
This design is compatible with both regulated and
unregulated wall adapters (minimum output voltage 4.1V).
For higher voltage wall adapters, adjust R15 to increase
the wall-adapter detection threshold. D1 is optional and
provides protection against accidental wall-adapter con-
nector shortsa problem in some products that use
charging cradles with exposed connections.
PowerPath
CONTROL
LOW DROPOUT
REGULATOR
TO SYSTEM
LOAD DC/DC
CONVERTERS
FROM
WALL
ADAPTER
PWM
REGULATOR
BATTERY
CHARGER
CHARGE
TERMINATION
DN1002 F01
Figure 1. Traditional Portable Power System
TO SYSTEM LOAD
DC/DC CONVERTERS
FROM WALL ADAPTER
DN1002 F02
LTC1980-BASED
POWER DESIGN
Figure 2. An LTC1980-Based Portable Power System
, LTC and LT are registered trademarks of Linear Technology Corporation.
PowerPath is a trademark of Linear Technology Corporation.
LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION 2003
dn1002 LT 1203 PRINTED IN THE USA
Linear Technology Corporation
1630 McCarthy Blvd., Milpitas, CA 95035-7417
(408) 432-1900

FAX: (408) 434-0507

www.linear.com
For applications help,
call (408) 432-1900, Ext. 2593
Data Sheet Download
http://www.linear.com
LTC1980
I
SENSE

Li-Ion
BATTERY
T1
WALL
ADAPTER
DN1002 F03a
SYSTEM LOAD
DC/DC
CONVERTERS
M1 M2
R
S
LTC1980
I
SENSE

Li-Ion
BATTERY
T1
DN1002 F03a
SYSTEM LOAD
DC/DC
CONVERTERS
M1 M2
R
S
Figure 3. LTC1980 Bidirectional Power Conversion
(3b) DC/DC Converter Mode (Wall Adapter Removed) (3a) Battery Charger Mode
16
DN1002 F04
REG
MODE
BATT1
BATT2
V
BAT
OVP
REGFB
CAOUT
C10
0.33F
PROG
C9
1F
C8
0.1F
C7
0.27F R12
100k
R11
1M
R13
806k
PROGT V
C
TIMER SS V
BIAS1
V
BIAS2
BGTDR PGND I
SENSE
RGTDR
LTC1980
GND
M1
1/2 FDC6401N
M2
1/2 FDC6401N
C6
470F
R5
154k
M3
R6
100k
R7
100k
1%
R14
100k
R8
169k
OPTIONAL PASS
TRANSISTOR
FOR LDO FDC636P
WALL
ADAPTER
SYSTEM LOAD
DC/DC
CONVERTERS
R9
10k
R10
110k
C11
1nF
C12
82pF
C1
68F
+4.1V
Li-Ion
BATTERY
C4
68F
D1*
5819
50m
R
SENSE
+ +
V
REG
LDODRV LDOFB WA

V
BAT
V
REG
DC
OUT
V
OUT
AC
IN
5.1 5.1
1nF 1nF
*OPTIONAL DIODE FOR
SHORTED WALL ADAPTER
TERMINAL PROTECTION.
R15
221k
1%
18 15
9
10
14
1 2 4 17 24 13 19
12 20 21 11 7 6 5 8
23
3
22
BH511-1014
3.3V
200pF
V
LDO
3.1V
Figure 4. 4.1V/4.2V Selectable 1A Li-Ion Battery Charger and 3.3V DC/DC Converter
High Efficiency Makes for Cool Running Products
and Extends Operating Time Between Charges
Peak DC/DC converter efficiency, excluding the optional,
low dropout regulator is over 88% (see Figure 5). In
addition, the LTC1980 uses pulse-width modulated charg-
ing. When compared to linear chargers, there is less power
dissipation keeping operating temperatures lower.
Conclusion
The LTC1980 helps reduce size, complexity and lowers
the cost of portable products by integrating a DC/DC con-
verter and battery charger circuitry into a single IC. It also
offers high efficiency, increasing battery run time and low-
ering power dissipation during battery charging.
LOAD CURRENT (mA)
10
E
F
F
I
C
I
E
N
C
Y

(
%
)
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
100 1000
DN1002 F05
V
BAT
= 3.6V
T
A
= 25C
FIGURE 4
Figure 5. Regulator Efficiency vs Load Current